Welder 'Bob' dedicated as Hobart Institute celebrates 80 years

June 1, 2010

Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy, Ohio, has unveiled "Bob," a bronze sculpture that stands at the entrance to the school, as part of the activities celebrating the institute's 80th anniversary.

Sculpted by Gregory Johnson of Cumming, Ga., and cast by Eagle Bronze Foundry of Lander, Wyo., the 43-in.-tall sculpture weighs 360 lbs. and stands on a 450-lb. base.

Dedicated to all past and present Hobart instructors, "Bob" is named in honor of Robert C. Bercaw, the first instructor at the Hobart Trade School, the former name of the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology. In 1930 Bercaw was personally recruited by William H. Hobart Sr. from the New York Central Railroad to teach welding in a corner of the Hobart Bros. Co. factory. Bercaw was also instrumental in writing the first Hobart training manuals.

The steel base was designed and fabricated by HIWT staff, under the direction of Ron Scott, vice president of the school. The base then was powder-coated by Aesthetic Finishers of Piqua, Ohio.

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In its 80-year history, HIWT has trained approximately 90,000 welders. The school offers courses in all arc welding processes. Students also have the opportunity to learn blueprint reading, weldability of metals, and pipe layout. Continuing education courses in technical aspects of the trade include fundamentals of visual inspection, arc welding inspection and quality control, liquid penetrant and magnetic particle inspection, welding for the nonwelder, and preparation for AWS’s certified welding inspector/educator examination. Certification services for industry and training materials for schools also are offered.